With the cancellation of events and weddings due to COVID-19, flower farmer Kristy Tippett has an excess of roses at her Dean flower farm. The owner of Soho Rose Farm has decided to gift them to vulnerable people and health care workers in the Ballarat community, instead of seeing them go to waste. Around 100 bouquets of roses and Care Cards will be available for anyone to pick up free of charge outside Lola at The Provincial Hotel on Wednesday. It is intended the flowers be gifted to people who are elderly, have a disability, or are working on the frontline response to the coronavirus. "We have this beautiful product that brings so much happiness to people. In a time like this I also feel almost a bit of responsibility to share that happiness with people," Ms Tippett said. "Hopefully it makes some people smile and feel there is still hope out there. Flowers aren't everything, but it is something that can make you feel a bit happier about being at home." Ms Tippett contacted Provincial Hotel owner Gorgi Coghlan hoping they could work together to develop a way to distribute the flowers, after seeing Ms Coghlan's social media post about roses from her own garden. CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION: Ms Coghlan said she and Ms Tippett worked with Committee for Ballarat and Leadership Ballarat to organise the pick up opportunity that included the offer of Care Cards. "I think this is just a great example of the huge heart the Ballarat community has and how willing everyone is put their own needs aside to help the people who need it most," Ms Coghlan said. "Imagine if everyone in Ballarat thought of one person that needs an act of kindness such as a bouquet of Kristy's beautiful Soho Rose Farm flowers. What an amazing difference that would make to how people go through this time. "I am just so proud of our community." Ms Tippett said she believed it was important for businesses to be a part of community. Anyone can pick up a bouquet of flowers and a Card Card outside Lola at the Provincial Hotel free of charge between 10am and 1pm on Wednesday. It will be a no contact pick up, with markers set out on the ground to ensure people practice social distancing. You can contact kristy@sohorosefarm.com.au to organise the purchase of flowers. The Courier has removed the paywall from our stories relating to health warnings and safety of the community in regards to the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we aim to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.

Coronavirus in Ballarat: Flower farmer gifts bouquets of roses to vulnerable people in community

With the cancellation of events and weddings due to COVID-19, flower farmer Kristy Tippett has an excess of roses at her Dean flower farm.

GIVING: Soho Rose Farm owner Kristy Tippett and Provincial Hotel owner Gorgi Coghlan have worked together to offer free bouquets of roses as gifts to vulnerable people and health care workers in Ballarat. Picture: Lachlan Bence

The owner of Soho Rose Farm has decided to gift them to vulnerable people and health care workers in the Ballarat community, instead of seeing them go to waste.

Around 100 bouquets of roses and Care Cards will be available for anyone to pick up free of charge outside Lola at The Provincial Hotel on Wednesday.

Hopefully it makes some people smile and feel there is still hope out there.

Kristy Tippett, Soho Rose Farm

It is intended the flowers be gifted to people who are elderly, have a disability, or are working on the frontline response to the coronavirus.

"We have this beautiful product that brings so much happiness to people. In a time like this I also feel almost a bit of responsibility to share that happiness with people," Ms Tippett said.

"Hopefully it makes some people smile and feel there is still hope out there. Flowers aren't everything, but it is something that can make you feel a bit happier about being at home."

Ms Tippett contacted Provincial Hotel owner Gorgi Coghlan hoping they could work together to develop a way to distribute the flowers, after seeing Ms Coghlan's social media post about roses from her own garden.

Ms Coghlan said she and Ms Tippett worked with Committee for Ballarat and Leadership Ballarat to organise the pick up opportunity that included the offer of Care Cards.

"I think this is just a great example of the huge heart the Ballarat community has and how willing everyone is put their own needs aside to help the people who need it most," Ms Coghlan said.

"Imagine if everyone in Ballarat thought of one person that needs an act of kindness such as a bouquet of Kristy's beautiful Soho Rose Farm flowers. What an amazing difference that would make to how people go through this time.

"I am just so proud of our community."

Ms Tippett said she believed it was important for businesses to be a part of community.

Anyone can pick up a bouquet of flowers and a Card Card outside Lola at the Provincial Hotel free of charge between 10am and 1pm on Wednesday.

It will be a no contact pick up, with markers set out on the ground to ensure people practice social distancing.

You can contact kristy@sohorosefarm.com.au to organise the purchase of flowers.

The Courier has removed the paywall from our stories relating to health warnings and safety of the community in regards to the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we aim to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.